Graduates going for jobs

Press, 16 April 1979, Page 7

Graduates going for jobs

PA Wellington University graduates are accepting jobs in preference to continuing fulltime study, says a report put out by the New Zea--1 a n d Vice-Chancellors’ Committee. The report shows more than half the 7116 graduates surveyed went directly into employment, and 29.7 per cent returned to further study. The rest went overseas, were still seeking work, or were not available for employment. The report notes the declining attraction of sec-ondary-school teaching for new graduates, indicated by a drop in the teachers’ college intake of 80 graduates in 1978 and, conversely, an increase 0f.124 graduates entering primary teachers’ college. The tendency for more graduates to seek work is thought to be a result of the economic crisis.

The report shows the diversification of law graduates into a wider range of employment because of fewer openings in professional practice. Another trend is the growing number of graduates entering “persuasivetype” occupations such as sales, and the numbers involved in counselling work as psychologists, sociologists, and social workers.